Roger Bernadina was the last player to sign with the Reds before camp.

If Bernadina had put up numbers in 2013 like he did in 2012, he would not have been still looking for a job on Jan. 31.

But Bernadina had a rough year last year. He hit a combined .181 with four home runs and 11 RBI in 227 at-bats with the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies.

"Last year didn't go like the way I wanted," said Bernadina, a native of Curacao, who now lives in the Netherlands. "But I have to go back and focus and do whatever I need to do to perform well. It's in the past."

Bernadina hit .291 with a .372 on-base percentage in 129 games with the Nationals in 2012. If he can get back to that, he'd be a welcome addition to the Reds' roster. He's in camp on a minor league deal, so the first order of business is making the roster.

"I'm focused on a new year," he said. "I'll do what it is to perform on the field."

John Fay doesn’t see Billy Hamilton getting on base as much as Shin-Soo Choo.
(Photo:
The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger
)

Members of the 1/320 Field Artillery Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Division based in Fort Campbell, attend a Cincinnati Reds game. The military unit was adopted by four Kenton County communities several years ago.
(Photo:
Thanks to Julie Schuler
)

The Reds are hoping that center fielder Billy Hamilton can step up to help fill the void in center field left by Shin-Soo, Choo, who was out of their price range and left as a free agent. <252>USA TODAY Sports/<252>Frank Victores (Photo: Frank Victores, Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports)

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He is considered one of the game's better defensive outfielders. He can play all three positions.

"I like center," Bernadina said. "But I can do whatever they need me to do. I just see it as day-to-day thing. I'm waiting for my chance, for my opportunity to make something happen."

EASY HEAT: Thursday was the first day of live batting practice. Reds manager Bryan Price was impressed with two prized young arms in camp, Robert Stephenson and Michael Lorenzen. Both brush up against 100 mph at times.

"It was the first time in person (I saw Stepthenson) since he first signed in 2011," Price said. "It was terrific. A lot of times with hard throwers, you expect a lot more physical effort in the delivery."

Not so with Stephenson and Lorenzen.

"They're just terrific," Price said. "Their deliveries are easy. It didn't look like they were putting a ton of effort into throwing the ball and it was jumping out of their hand, exploding at the plate. I was really excited about that."

That easy delivery can be as deceptive as hiding the ball.

"It looks like he's going to pump in there at 88 and the next thing you know it on you at 95, 98," Price said. "That's deception. That's real good deception."

Price was pleased overall with the first full day.

"Seeing guys go out there with a good approach, staying through the middle," Price said. "I think for the most part each pitcher got better the more they threw over the course of their live batting practice."

LATOS UPDATE: Mat Latos threw for the third straight day off flat ground. Latos is one week removed from minor knee surgery. The next step is getting back on the mound.

"We're getting closer," Price said. "We've got to make sure the strength is back. The good thing is that he's strong enough to get out there and not just be weight-bearing but be active and throw and keep his arm in shape.

"We talked about seven to 10 days before he could go back to a more rigorous schedule. Of course, when we approach that, it will be more day-to-day just to verify the strength is there. The last thing you want is a significant setback. We'll be cautious on the front end."

POPUP FLOP: The Reds did their popup drill Thursday. With the high cloudless sky and wind, quite a few of the balls fell.

Price gave the club a collective mulligan.

"You have no idea what type of weather you're going to get as far as the wind issue," Price said. "I think we'll revisit it in few days. I don't think we'll have the same issue."

6-7-8: For the Reds to be good offensively, the bottom part of the order – Todd Frazier, Devin Mesoraco and Zack Cozart – are going to have to be better this year than they were last year.

"I think any team that's going to be consistent throughout the course of the year and competitive has got to be able to exact production throughout the lineup," Price said. "You can't expect the middle of the order to carry us throughout the season.

"They are also three of the players with the most room to improve as far as their ceiling. I don't think we've seen the best of those three players ...'' ¦